Bellmore-Merrick girls' swim team sweeps at counties

Posted
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 1:31 pm

Six members of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District girls’ swim team, from left, Jaimie Kaefer, Jessica Arana, Paige Kaplan, Kerry Giovanniello, Gabrielle Toback and Elizabeth Walsh, were honored at a January Board of Education for their outstanding performances at the county and state championship meets. They were joined by Superintendent Dr. Henry Kiernan, at left, their coach, Robert Kaefer, and Board of Education President Marion Blane.

Courtesy Central High School District

At its January meeting, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education honored six members of the Central District girls’ swim team, the Sharks, for their outstanding performances at the county and state championship meets. They are Jessica Arana, Kerry Giovanniello, Jaimie Kaefer, Paige Kaplan, Gabrielle Toback and Liz Walsh.

The Central District swim team comprises members from each of Bellmore-Merrick’s five schools –– Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools. Below are profiles on each of honorees:

Jessica Arana

Sophomore

Calhoun High School

2012-13 was Arana’s second year swimming for the Sharks. This year, she earned All-Division honors in the 100-yard butterfly. At the county championships, she received All-County accolades in the 100-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle. She was also named All-Long Island as a member of the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that won division and county titles. Arana qualified for the state championships on both relays and individually in the butterfly and freestyle races. She finished seventh in the state in the butterfly and 15th in the freestyle. She holds the school record in the butterfly.

Kerry Giovanniello

Sophomore

Mepham High School

2012-13 was Giovanniello’s second year swimming for the Sharks. Giovanniello was the Division A Champion in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races. At the county championships, she won the 200-yard freestyle and placed second in the 500-yard freestyle, earning All-County accolades. She also received All-Long Island honors as a member of the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that won division and county titles. Giovanniello qualified for the state championships on both relays and individually in 200- and 500-yard freestyle. At the state championships, she placed ninth in her individual events. She holds school records in the 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle races.

Sid Tanenbaum, who lived in Woodmere and owned a metal-stamping shop in Far Rockaway, where he was known more for his charitable ways than his two-handed set shot, has been honored for the past 30 years with a basketball tournament that raises scholarship money for students in the Five Towns.